Blue 1989 760Turbo, Automatic - Questions

Kame · Post by **Kame** » 25 Jan 2007, 16:59

Hi

My girlfriend just bought a 1989 760Turbo, autommatic.
It has 258 xxxkm, wich i think is relatively low for a volvo.
Alarm system, remote starter, all leather interior with sunroof, heating seats and A/C.

When we bought it (for $1500CAN) the exhaust fell off on the first ride.
It was all rusted frwom catalytic converter to end of pipe, but the downpipe was still solid, so we got a new exhaust system for 380$.
The tires are very, very tired and the front brakes are to be changed soon.
Other then that the turbo, suspension and chassis looks pretty nice. Theres no rust on the exterior and the only problems we have is missing flasher on the right and a driver's side wiper.

Actually i was quite surprised with the car's driveability. Its very hard to drift with the car, but the handling feels good. It really feels like it doest want to go out of control. Its a very different feeling then my other RWD (my own, 1985 supra mkII, standard).

So my questions :

My differential light is flashing on/off at random times, so i might want to have it checked, or just have an oil change for a start.
Though i feel it is working right, no weird chunky or windy sound coming from there, and the car's wheels can spin enough to be able to toss the car sidewass a little.
So my feeling is that its probably more something with the electrical in the dashboard.

I think that because the fuel gauge doesnt work at all and the temp gauge seems to work 25% time.

Other then that the gear shifting seems a little, sometimes the car reach cut-off if you dont release gas on big accelerations (full throttle). It should shift but it doesnt ; you have to lift the foot to make it shift.
Is an automatic volvo the type of car you need to lift ur foot off of to make shift ?
So far i dont think so because i keep equal pressure (mid throttle) it does shift on its own with no problem.
Also i feel like the car doesnt like the 4th gear (they have 4 gear automatic transmission, right ?) , it kinda should since its a "berline" and not a sport car.

I also wonder fo how much kms is a full fuel tank good for, because the gas gauge doesnt work.

So far this is it about the car. Thanks a lot in advance to all those that will reply to this thread and even more thanks to those with relevant information.

Kame

Kmaniac in California USA · Post by **Kmaniac in California USA** » 25 Jan 2007, 18:59

The one thing you noted that has me scratching my head is your reference to a "differential light". There are many different warning lights on the dashboard, but I have never seen or heard of one for the differential! Can't for the life of me know what such a light would indicate if it did exist. Please describe the illustration on this particular light. I'm thinking that maybe what you are looking at is the "no light bulb" light, the one that comes on if you have a burnt out light bulb. It looks like a light bulb with a slash through it. This will come on if an brake light is burnt out and you touch the brake pedal, or if a headlight is burnt out and you turn on the headlights.

Regarding your gauges, check the connections and grounds for this devices and the grounds for the dashboard. The problem could be there.

Regarding the transmission, I have never my foot into the throttle long enough for the transmission to upshift to fourth under full throttle acceleration. These transmissions will usually shift into fourth when you have reached cruising speed and not under acceleration.

Kame · Post by **Kame** » 26 Jan 2007, 08:53

I see what you mean about the 4th gear... its just the cruising speed, whenever i want to accelerate it will down shift me into 4rd, then back on 4th when i reach desired speed.

I had put 20L of gas in it and then gas tank hadnt moved but, i decided to put as much as it would take and ended up puting 70L after we had burned the 20L, and the the gauge works (great news).

The "differential light" is next to the "parking brake light", just next on the right. Its a yellow/orange one and shows....hmmm how to explain....
It shows the back wheels with a differential in the middle, and what looks like burn out traces.
I honestly dont know what to think about that light since the car's wheels can spin, and the car easily reaches 140km on the highway. I dont know much about differential but what i do know is that they make weird noises when they wear down, and this car's doesnt.

Post by **billofdurham** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:00

The "differential light" is next to the "parking brake light", just next on the right.

Having checked the owner's manuals for the '89 and '90 models of the 760 Turbo I found that there is a difference in the instrument panel layout.

The '89 model does have the 'bulb malfunction light' next to the 'handbrake applied light'. The '90 model has the 'ABS' light next to the 'handbrake' light. On the US models this has the letters ABS, but on the Canadian model it has the ABS symbol of the wheels.

It is possible that your car is a 1990 model. If so it is the ABS light which occasionally comes on.

As the fuel gauge is now working it may be that the float in the tank had become stuck and was brought back to use by filling the tank. The temperature gauge could be a faulty sensor in the engine.

Bill.